Return to position gcode

Jered

Hey guys,
this might sound like a dumb question, but I just can't seem to figure it out.

I am trying to create a purge/dump position/ protocol for my machine using gcode, but I can't, for the life of me, figure out how to get my the machine to return to the last Z height position. Or last position before tool change.

Is there a command/s that allow me to store and recall positions? After a tool change?

Below is my config, just incase.

config.g

Jered

@Jered
What about using:
G1 60 XYZ S2
G1 60 XYZ R2

?

Jered

Doesn't seem to work

OwenD

@Jered
When you start a tool change, the positions are stored in slot 2 automatically.
See G60
So to get back there use
G1 R2 X0 Y0 Z0 You probably don't need the XYZ as there's no offset being used
If you wanted to go to a point 2mm above the Z position use
G1 R2 X0 Y0 Z2

Jered

@OwenD
So I added that and it looks like it is moving xyz to the 0,0 position every tool change.

Jered

@Jered
Z is also going to zero.

OwenD

@Jered
Please post the firmware version you're using and the macro you are calling the tool changes from.
Also your tpre*.g tfree*.g tpost*.g files for the two tools

Jered

@OwenD
firmware version 3.3
Original macro is:
G1 E-5 F5000
G91
G1 Z2 F1000
G90
G1 X328 Y306 F6000
G1 E10 F300
G1 E-30 F5000
G1 E-50 F500
G1 E-175 F5000
{IF NEWTOOL=0}T0
{IF NEWTOOL=1}T1
{IF NEWTOOL=2}T2
{IF NEWTOOL=3}T3
{IF NEWTOOL=4}T4
{IF NEWTOOL=5}T5
{IF NEWTOOL=6}T6
G1 E200 F5000
G1 E60 F1500
G91
G1 Y100 E50 F1000
G1 Y-100 F3000
G1 Z-2 F1000
G1 E3 F5000
G90

I am not using any of the Tool.g files currently. I am using simplify3d's tool change tab to add this to my gcode files. I added the command you sent me to the end of my tool change code to see what would happen.

To test the command G1 R command I added an extra 10 to the Z movement at the top of the macro to see if it would return back to the correct Z height. It does not. Just keeps adding.

Jered

@Jered
Firmware now 3.4.5

Just upgraded.

OwenD

@Jered
I really don't know anything about S3D or what happens if you don't use the tool change files, but...
Try this
Note: I don't know if you're using a tool changer so I don't know what you have to do to safely move to and from the pickup point

G60 S3 ; save position to slot 3
G1 E-5 F5000
G91
G1 Z2 F1000
G90
G1 X328 Y306 F6000
G1 E10 F300
G1 E-30 F5000
G1 E-50 F500
G1 E-175 F5000
{IF NEWTOOL=0}T0
{IF NEWTOOL=1}T1
{IF NEWTOOL=2}T2
{IF NEWTOOL=3}T3
{IF NEWTOOL=4}T4
{IF NEWTOOL=5}T5
{IF NEWTOOL=6}T6
G1 E200 F5000
G1 E60 F1500
G91
G1 Y100 E50 F1000 
G1 Y-100 F3000
G1 Z-2 F1000
G1 E3 F5000
G90
G1 R3 X0 Y0 Z0 ; move back to slot 3 position

Jered

Ok,
So when I use:
G1 R3 X0 Y0 Z0
I think it is causing it to go to 0,0,0 However, when I use:
G1 R3 X Y Z (I used your G60 S3 at the top) is seems to work!

That being said, the picture of the slicer generates is all kinds of F'd up. See pic bellow:

Should look like this:

I decided to run this anyway, with no filament and with a Z offset from the bed (don't want a crash) and it looks right. The slicer doesn't know how to handle the code apparently.

I also waited for the layer height to change before sending this.

I did have this tool change process in the tool.g files, and it works fine, however, if there is a problem, such as a filament jam, it makes it a pain to recover from. Everytime I click on a different tool, it runs the process. If there was a software switch to turn off the tool.g files for recovering a failed print or jam, then I would move this tool change process to the tool.g files.

Anyway, let me test this for a while and get back to you. Seems good though!

Ultimate goal is to add a purge/dump area to the printer.
I may make a video about this so that you can see more details if needed later.

OwenD

@Jered
You can avoid running the tool change macros by using the P0 parameter
e.g T1 P0
Refer to the docs here

Jered

@OwenD
Thanks,

I guess I can write a macro for turning them on and off.

OwenD

@Jered
You don't "turn it off"
You need to use the P0 parameter on every tool change where you don't want to run the tool change macros.
If you did this ....
T1 P0 ; select tool 1 but don't run the tool change macros
T0 ; select tool zero and run tool change macros
T-1 ; deselect all tools and run tool change macros
T0 P0 ; select tool 0 but don't run tool change macros

Jered

I understand. I think this can be closed. I get it now.

I really appreciate your help!

You guys are the best!